Rod wrapping machine



June 10, 1969 J. M. BISHOP ET AL 3,448,506

" ROD WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 26, 1966 Sheet of 8 ROI FIG. 2 INVENTORS.

JOHN M. BISHOP BY FNMETT F. SIMON ATTO NEY June 10, 1969 J. M. BISHOP AL 3,448,506

ROD WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 26, 1966 2 n9 6 n9 I30 11 203 130 mvENToRS:

8 JOHN M. BISHOP BY METT F. SIMON ATTO NEY June 10, 1969 B1SHOP ET AL 3,448,506

ROD WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 26, 1966 aos 206 20s lllflllli fllfl as 204 206 FIG. I7

Fl G. I4 i INVENTORSI JOHN M. BISHOP EMM TT F. SIMON ATT NEY June 10, 1969 J M BISHOP ET AL 3,448,506

ROD WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Aug 26, 1966 Sheet 4 20.2 202 3 M If H Fl n [F 203 203 203 L H H W" :40 I170 l'rOfl n 151 139% FIG. 2|

I32 HO gr; llllll 39 FIG. 25

INVENTORSI JOHN M. BISHOP BY EIAMETT E $220M ATTO EY June 10, 1969 BISHOP ET AL. 3,448,506

ROD WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 26, 1966 Sheet 5 of 8 INVENTORS! JOHN M. BISHOP EMMETT F. SIMON ATTO NEY June 10, 1969 J. M. BISHOP ET AL 3,448,506

ROD WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 26, 1966 Sheet 6 of 8 FIG. 3| 3:0

INVENTORS JOHN M. BISHOP BY EM TT SI 09! ATTOFYQNEY June 10, 1969 .J. M. BISHOP ET AL 3,448,506

ROD WRAPPING MACHINE Sheet Filed Aug. 26, 1966 INVENTORSI JOHN M. BISHOP EMMETT F SIMON i? ,1, ATTOIJNEY June 10, 1969 J. M. BISHOP ET AL 9 5 ROD WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 26, 1966 Sheet 8 of 8 v y $11M 4% J ATTo NEY United States Patent 3,448,506 ROD WRAPPING MACHINE John M. Bishop and Emmett F. Simon, Orange, Calif.,

assignors to The Conolon Corporation, a corporation of California Filed Aug. 26, 1966, Ser. No. 575,456 Int. Cl. B65h 81/06 US. Cl. 29-208 25 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device for automatic pattern wrapping of a fishing rod or a like article having a rotating circular head with a sector-like opening and dual drive means to bridge the opening so that the rod may be moved laterally in and out of the rotating head.

This invention relates in general to yarn handling apparatus and, more particularly, to a machine for winding yarn about several portions of a fishing rod or like object.

At the present time the manufacture of fishing rods is largely a hand operation. One of the most time-consuming hand operations is the winding of plastic or otherwise impregnated yarn about a rod to secure the line guide eyes in position, to cover a portion of a ferrule, or to secure a rod tip. In conventional practice, the entire rod is machine or hand-rotated while yarn is hand fed to be wound about it. This has remained a hand operation despite the great volume of fishing rods produced because many hundreds of models, of different lengths, diameters, elastic properties, and numbers of eyes and fittings are produced.

It is, therefore, a main object of this invention, to provide a wrapping machine which is versatile in that it may be easily set up to wrap a wide variety of fishing rods in different places with diiferent lengths, sizes, and types of wrappings.

Another object of this invention is to provide a substantially automatic rod wrapping machine which wraps and ties off the end of each wrapping.

A further object of this invention is to provide a rod winding machine in which the eyes to be wound and secured to a rod are automatically aligned and positioned along the rod so that alignment inspection of the eyes is not required.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a machine to rapidly and simultaneously wind yarn about a large number of positions along a rod.

Yet a further object of this invention is to provide a winding machine for rod-like objects which allows the object being wound or wrapped to remain stationary to be supported along its entire length.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a winding machine for elongated objects which may be easily loaded with objects to be Wound or wrapped.

A feature of this invention is the provision of a winding head to wind a given portion of a rod, the winding head having a sector gear with an open center and a radial opening leading to the open center, said sector gear being rotatably mounted about an opening in the winding head, the winding head having two drive gears at different positions so at least one drive gear always meshes with said sector gear, said sector gear carrying a yarn supply to wrap a rod placed in the open center of said sector gear through the radial opening in said sector gear.

Another feature of this invention is to provide, in a rod wrapping machine in which a rod is whipped with at least one strand of yarn, a tie-01f device for drawing 3,448,506 Patented June 10, 1969 an end beneath the whipping to tighten and lock the whipping.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device which with the rod may be wound by several turns of yarn and then will seize and draw a final turn beneath some preceding turns to tighten, lock and sever the yarn at the end of the winding.

Many other objects, advantages, and features of invention reside in the particular construction, combination, and arrangement of parts involved in the embodiments of our invention and its practice otherwise as will be understood from the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of a rod wrapping machine;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the drive end of the rod wrapping machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a fragment of a rod having an eye wound thereon;

FIG. 4 is a transverse section through a rod showing an eye positioned adjacent to it prior to wrapping;

FIG. 5 is a transverse section through a portion of the rod wrapping machine of FIG. 1 showing a rod winding station with one winding head removed and with a lower central portion of the winding station frame broken away in section;

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top view of a tie-off flap assembly in the lowered position;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal section through a tie-ofl flap head;

FIG. 9 is an end view of a tie-off flap head;

FIG. 10 is a top view of an eye holder with an eye placed thereon;

FIG. 11 is an elevation view of a fragment of the top of the eye holder of FIG. 10 with an eye shown thereon;

FIG. 12 is an elevational view of the inner side of a winding head;

FIG. 13 is a side view of the [Winding head of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a section taken on line 14-14 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 is a rear view from the direction of winding of a yarn holding and feeding bracket;

FIG. 16 is a section through a winding head drive shaft showing an indexing cam mounted thereon to contact a switch;

FIG. 17 is a side view of a fragment of a rod decoratively wound;

FIG. 18 is a fragment of a cam mounting shaft with a winding head positioning barrel cam mounted thereon;

FIG. 19 is a schematic representation of an open threeway valve;

FIG. 20 is a schematic representation :of -a closed and exhausting three-way valve;

FIG. 21 is an elevational view of a fragment of the air manifolds and associated valves used to activate the first embodiment of our invention;

FIGS. 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 show fragments of a rod in the stages of being Wrapped and tied off by the apparatus of this invention;

FIG. 27 is a front view, toward the direction of wrapping, of a fragment of a winding head showing yarn cut-off and holding elements;

FIG. 28 is a view taken on line 28-28 of FIG. 27 showing the yarn cut-off and holding head;

FIGS. 29 and 30 show a fragment of the yarn cut-off and holding head, respectively, receiving a fragment of yarn, and cutting off and holding the yarn end;

FIG. 31 is a transverse vertical section through a rod winding machine according to a second embodiment of our invention showing a tandem winding station partially broken away in section and having one winding head removed;

FIG. 32 is a enlarged side view of the rod gripping mechanism of a winding station according to the second embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 33 is an elevational view, from the direction of winding, of a winding head according to the second embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 34 is a side view of the tie-off mechanism and a fragment of a yarn feeding bracket taken on line 3434 of FIG. 33;

FIG. 35 is a side view in section of master and slave hydraulic cylinders which stop relative motion of the tie-off mechanism of the second embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 36 is an enlarged sectional view of a fragment of the winding station frame of the second embodiment of this invention showing winding head guide and drive rods;

FIG. 37 is an enlarged sectional view of a fragment of the winding station frame showing details of the program box and the winding head driving and positioning gear box;

FIG. 38 is a section taken on line 38-38 of FIG. 37; and

FIG. 39 is an enlarged side view of the rod eye positioning mechanism of the second embodiment of our invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a machine bed 40 supported by the legs 41. Two end plates 42 and 43 extend upward from bed 40 and have the pair of support rails 44 extend between them. Mounted on the rails 44 is the winding station generally designated by the reference numeral 45 and the winding stations designated by the numeral 45. The winding stations 45' and 45 may be positioned where windings are to be made by sliding them along and fixing them to the rails 44. A rod 39 to be wound extends through the winding stations 45 and 45 and is held at each end by suitable supports 37 and 38.

Each winding station 45' and 45 has a winding station frame 46 on which there are slidably mounted the two winding heads 47. The winding heads 47, which will later be described in detail, are moved towards or away from the winding station frames 46 by right and left hand barrel cams 48 and 49. The barrel cams 48 and 49 are mounted on a single cam shaft 50.

Pulleys 51 are mounted on the winding head drive shafts 53. The pulleys 51 drive the winding heads 47 by means of link belts 52 or the like. Shafts 53 are preferably splined shafts on which the pulleys 53 can move longitudinally with movement of the winding heads 47 and when positioning the winding stations 45' and 45. The shafts 53 are journalled in the end plates 42 and 43 and extend through the end plate 42.

As shown in FIG. 2, shafts 53 have the bevel gears 54 mounted on them beyond end plate 42. Cam shaft has a bevel gear 55 mounted on it. Side plates 56 and 57 have the lateral drive shafts 58 and 59 journalled in them. Shaft 58 carries the bevel gear 60 to drive bevel gear 55 and shaft 59 carries the pair of bevel gears 61 to drive the shafts 53 in opposite directions.

Referring further to FIG. 2, a motor 62 having reduction gear box 63 drives shaft 59 by means of the pulleys 64 and 65 and belt 66. Within a drive gear box 67, shaft 59 has a spur gear 68 and a solenoid clutch engaged pulley 69 mounted on it. Within gear box 67 shaft 58 has the solenoid clutch activated spur gear 70 and the pulley 71 mounted on it. Belt 72 enables pulley 69 to drive pulley 71. The spur gears 68 and 70 mesh to drive each other. The sequence of operations of this drive will be hereinafter explained.

As shown in FIG. 5, each winding station 45 of 45 has a winding station frame 46 mounted on the rails 44. Frame 46 is generally U-shaped with a pair of opposed air cylinders 75 mounted on each side. Rod clamping piston rods 76 extend toward each other to secure a rod 39 extending through each frame 46. The outwardly extending ends of the rods 76 of the cylinders 75 activate limit switches 77 when a rod is clamped. The central bottom portion of frame 46 contains a large opening 78. Guide rods 79 extend downward from frame 46. A long air cylinder 80 has its upper plate 81 slidably secured by the guide rods 79. Cylinder rod 82 of cylinder 80 is fixed to frame 46 so activation of a cylinder 80 will cause it to retract its cylinder rod 82 to slide cylinder rod 80 upwards along guide rods 79. Upper plate 81 then approaches the bottom of frame 46 to thrust eye holder rod 84 and eye holder 83 through opening 78. In this position, upper plate 81 activates a limit switch 85.

As shown in FIGS. 12, 13 and 14, each winding head 47 has a frame plate 86 having two guide rods 87 fixed to project from the upper and lower guide rod securing apertures 88 and 89. As may be seen in FIG. 5, four apertures 90 are provided in frame 46. Each winding head had two rods 87 extending slidably into a diagonally opposite pair of apertures 90. This slidably mounts two frame plates 86 on each side of each frame 46. A cam follower 91, shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, is fixed to each frame plate 86 and engages the groove 92 of a barrel cam 48 or 49 as shown in FIG. 18.

Referring further to FIGS. 12, 13 and 14, a circular bearing 93 having a retaining lip 94 is fixed in frame plate 86 about the circular opening 95. A sector gear 96, having a radial opening 97 corresponding to the radial opening 98 in plate 86, is rotatably mounted on bearing 93. A first drive gear 99 is mounted on a common shaft 100 with a pulley 101 which is driven by a belt 52 as has been described and is shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. Drive gear 99 meshes with the teeth 102 of sector gear 96 and with the rotatably mounted idler gear 103. Idler gear 103 drives the second rotatably mounted drive gear 104 which also meshes with the teeth 102 of sector gear 96. The identical drive gears 99 and 104 contact sector gear 96 a greater distance apart about its circumference than the width of opening 97 so that a drive gear 99 or 104 is always in contact with the sector gear 96.

As shown in FIGS. 12, 13, 14 and 15, a yarn holding and feeding bracket 105 is fixed to the outer edge 106 of sector gear 96 and projects inward toward the center of rotation of sector gear 96. A thread or yarn bobbin shaft 107 extends from bracket 105 parallel to the axis of sector gear 96 in the direction of plate 86. A snap fastener type retainer 108, shown in FIG. 14, may secure bobbin 109 in place as shown'in FIG. 15. A yarn end 110 from bobbin 109 leads from bobbin 109 through a first aperture 111 and back through a second aperture 112 in bracket 105. The yarn 110 then passes over to and upward out of a quick threading slot 113 to emerge from the end of bracket 105 under a thread tension spring 114.

Referring now to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the tie-off portion of the first embodiment of our invention consists of a yoke 116 on each side of frame 46 within which a flap assembly 117 is slidably mounted to be moved laterally by an air cylinder 120. A flap 119 is hinged to be lowered by the activation of a pivotally mounted air cylinder 118. When the flaps 119 are lowered, the limit switches 12] are closed by an extension 122 on cylinder rods 123.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a tie-off head 124 is fixed to the end of each hinged flap 119. Each head 124 contains a piston 125 in a cylinder 126 connected to a rod 127. Rod 127 is connected to plunger 128 by means of a rigid link 129 so that air introduced into tubes 130 and 131 will move piston 125 to retract or extend plunger 128 from tube 132. Plunger 128 contains a lateral slot 133 to receive a strand of yarn 110. It is to be noted that tube 132 and plunger 128 lie parallel to and adjacent to a rod 39 when the flaps 119 are urged into a down" position by cylinder 118.

FIGS. 19 and 20 show solenoid activated valves 135 of the type which may be used to operate the first embodiment of this invention. As shown in FIG. 21, an air pump 136 supplies a reservoir of compressed air to a pressure storage tank 137. From tank 137 a tube 138 is connected through the solenoid activated valves 139-150 to the manifolds 151-162. The manifolds 151-162 and similar additional manifolds (not shown) are connected to the air cylinders as will be hereinafter described.

The first embodiment of our invention is used and operates in the following manner. As may be seen in FIG. 1, a rod 39, which is to have eyes 164 similar to those shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 wound to it, is placed downward through the openings 98 of each winding head 47. This rod 39 is first secured in position by having its ends rest on the supports 37 and 38. The winding stations 45' and 45 have been previously positioned along the rails 44 to attach eyes to rod 39 exactly where desired. The operator manually reaches below the rails 44 to place an eye 164 in each eye holder 83.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 11, each eye 164 has a line guide ring 165 which, in many cases, is connected by members 166 to front and rear extending attachments elements 167. The eye holders 83 have suitable slots 168 and 169 cut in them to accommodate the particular eyes 164 being attached at each winding station 45' or 45. To allow rapid change in rod models being wound, eye holders 83 may easily be changed on the eye holder rods 84 to accommodate different sizes, types, and styles of eyes 164. An electric trimmer and counter, which is a standard type of a conventional pre-programmed control unit (not shown) counts and controls the following sequence of events. Valve 141, shown in FIG. 21, is opened to the position shown in FIG. 19 to pressurize manifold 153. Manifold 153 is connected by the tubes 171 to the outer ends of the cylinders 75 to extend the rod clamps 76 inward as shown in FIG. 5. This centrally grips the rod 39 in each winding station 45' or 45. When the rod 39 is so gripped, all the switches 121, as shown in FIG. 5, are closed to signal the control unit to then open solenoid valve 139 and pressurize manifold 151. Manifold 151 is connected to the tops of the cylinders 80 by the flexible tubes 170. Air pressure than activates cylinder 80 to raise eye holders 83 and eyes 164 through opening 78 and hold the attachment elements 167 of the eyes 164 against the bottom surface of the rod 39. The completion of this motion of cylinders 80 closes the switches 85 to signal the control unit to start the winding operation.

As shown in FIG. 15, a yarn 110 projects from the end of each bracket 105 and this yarn end has been clamped between the attachment elements 167 of the eyes and the bottom of rod 39 as the eyes were lifted into position. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, motor 62 is running constantly during the operation of the first embodiment of this invention, so the clutch 69, two clutches 172, two clutches 173, and one clutch 174 are engaged to allow motor 62 to drive the two shafts 50 and the shaft 53. Shafts 53 drive and rotate all the sector gears 96 in the manner which has been described. As the sector gears 96 rotate about the rod 39, the barrel cams 48 and 49 move the winding heads 47 away from the center of each eye 164 to wind yarn 110 about it as shown in FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 16, a cam 177 is mounted on portion 175 of shaft 53 to activate a switch 176 once for each revolution of shaft 53. After a given number of turns are wound or before winding starts, the control unit opens valves 150 and 143 to pressurize manifolds 155 and 157 shown in FIG. 21. Tubes 180, fragments of which are shown attached to the manifolds 155 and 157, lead to the outwardly disposed ends of the cylinders 118 as shown in FIG. 5. The cylinders 118 are thus activated to lower the hinged flaps 119 to place the tubes 132 of the heads 124 alongside the rod 39.

It is to be noted that winding station 45' may be required to secure a larger eye 164 than the winding stations 45 so that station 45' is controlled and activated somewhat separately from the stations 45. Thus, as shown in FIG. 21, valve 145 may be activated a head of valve 148 to pressurize manifolds 159 and 161. The manifolds 159 and 161 are connected by tubes 181 to the cylinders 120 of the winding stations 45' and 45. These cylinders 120 slide the flap assemblies 117 laterally to thrust the tubes 132 and the plungers 128 longitudinally past the portions of the rod 39 being wound. This motion of a tube 132 is shown in FIGS. 22 and 23.

As may be seen in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, each tube 181 is connected to a cylinder 120 through a constrictor 184 and each tube 181 is directly connected to a head 124 by a tube 130. The constrictor 1'84 restricts flow through it so that plunger 128 is extended from tube 132 before the advance is completed of tube 132 past the winding of a yarn 110.

As shown in FIG. 24, yarn is wound about rod 39 and tube 132 with the last turn of yarn 110 falling into the transverse notch 133 of plunger 128. As has been described in connection with FIG. 16, switch 17 6 indicates revolutions of shaft 53 and thereby winds of yarn 110 about rod 39. Thus, when the yarn 110 is wound as shown in FIG. 24, the control unit disengages clutches 173 and 174 shown in FIG. 1. Switch 176 signals the control unit to open these clutches so that the sector gears 96 of the winding stations 45 stop indexed in the position shown in FIG. 12.

If winding station 45 must make a longer wind for a greater distance to secure a larger eye 164, clutch 172, shown in FIG. 1, will be disengaged after clutches 173 and 174 along with clutch 69 shown in FIG. 2. When all the winding heads 47 have stopped, the control unit closes valves 145 and 148 and opens valves 146 and 147 as shown in FIG. 21 to exhaust manifolds 159 and 161 and pressurize manifolds 160 and 162. These manifolds are connected to tubes 186 which are also shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The tubes 186 are connected to the inner ends of the cylinders and they are connected by the tubes 131 to the heads 124 as shown in FIG. 8. Since the constrictors 184 only allow air to slowly exhaust from the cylinders 120 while the tubes 1'81 and rapidly exhaust the plunger extension sides of the heads 124, the plungers 128 are retracted in the tubes 132 to grip the last winding of yarn 110 wound in slot 133 against the end of tube 132. As air slowly exhausts from the cylinders 120, the tubes 132 are withdrawn from under the windings Wound over them to pull these windings tight as shown in FIG. 25.

As may be seen in FIG. 7 when the tubes 132 are all completely withdrawn, the switches 187 are closed to signal the control unit to close valves 143 and and open valves 144 and 149 to pressurize manifolds 156 and 158. These manifolds are connected to the inner ends of the cylinders 118 to cause the cylinders 118 to raise the hinged flaps 119. In some applications of this embodiment of our invention, this motion of plunger 128 and the tubes 132 may be used to break or sever the yarn 110 to complete a tied 01f winding as shown in FIG. 26.

If desired, referring to FIGS. 27, 28, 29 and 30, each winding head 47 may have a pair of short stroke air cylinders 1'88 and 189 fixed to its face in the direction of winding. Arms 190 and 191 are pivotally mounted between the pairs of lugs 192 and 193. A fixed arm 194 holds a cylindrical guide 195 clear of the front of the windings of yarn 110. Arm 191 is connected to the cut-off tube 196 which is slidably disposed in guide 195. Arm 192 is connected to the cut-off plunger 197 which contains the lateral slot 198.

by bracket 105. This is accomplished by providing slot 198 with a cutting edge 199 and a blunt gripping edge 7 200 as shown in FIGS. 29 and 30. Cylinders 1'88 and 189 may be activated by the control unit by means of valves and manifolds similar to those which have been described.

An additional advantage of the provision of the tubes 196 and the plungers 197 is that yarn ends are held in position to be clamped between a rod 39 and eyes 164 during the next cycle. Also, these yarn ends may be held by tubes 196 and plungers 197 a. lateral distance equal to one or two turns in the direction of winding at the start of the winding to ensure the overwinding and the tight winding of the starting ends. After winding starts, plunger 197 is extended and tube 196 withdrawn. In some applications of the first embodiment of this invention, two tubes and plungers 196 and 197 are provided side by side. One tube and plunger holds the yarn end and the adjacent tube and plunger cuts the yarn end. It is also to be noted that the positive holding of a yarn end at the start of a winding by a tube 196 and a plunger 197 allows a ferrule to be wound on a rod or any other winding to be made on a rod where the yarn end cannot be clamped against the rod by an eye.

After the flaps 119 have been retracted, valves 139 and 141 close and valves 140 and 142 open to pressurize manifolds 152 and 154 as shown in FIG. 21. These manifolds are connected by the tubes 202 and 203 to the cylinders 75 and 80 to retract the rod clamps 76 and lower the eye holders 83 as shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 17 shows a decorative winding 204 having tightly wound portions 205 and spaced apart windings 206. This may be accomplished by using earns 48 as shown in FIG. 18. Portions 207 and 208 of groove 92 have a greater slope to more rapidly advance a winding head 47 to pro duce the spaced windings 206. Thus suitable earns 48 can produce any winding desired with greater accuracy and uniformity than is possible by hand. In general, gear box 67 rotates the sector gears 96 about forty times for each revolution of a barrel cam 48 or 49.

To start another winding cycle, the winding heads 47 must be returned to their starting position. As shown in FIG. 2, the clutch mounted pulley 69 remains disengaged while the clutch mounted gear 70 is engaged to rotate shaft 58. Since shaft 58 is now driven by meshing gears 68 and 70 rather than by the link belt 72, it is driven in reverse and at a higher rate of speed. Switch 176, shown in FIG. 16, signals the control unit when the cams 148 and 149 have been reversed to their original position. Clutches 172 remain open so that the sector gears 96 do not revolve while the winding heads are being automatically re-positioned for the next cycle.

The second embodiment of our invention 'winds rods in much the same manner as the first embodiment which has been described. However, the second embodiment is even more flexible and more readily adjustable to wind a greater variety of rods or other articles.

Referring now to FIG. 31, longitudinal ways 300 and 301 are fixed to the channel iron base 302, Two rack gears 303 and 304 are disposed adjacent to the ways 300 and 301 and are engaged by the pinion gears 305 and 306 mounted on the shaft 307. Shaft 307 is journalled in the support blocks 310 and 311 which slidably rest on the ways "300 and 301. Shaft 308 telescopes within shaft 307 so that it may be extended therefrom and rotated by handle 309 to slidably position the winding station, generally designated by the reference numeral 312, along the base 302.

This second embodiment of our invention may have several winding stations 312, althoughsome may be modified or simplified in a manner which will be described. Each winding station 312 has a base plate 313 on which a hollow main frame 314 is fixed to extend upward. Drive mount frames 315 and 316 extend rearwardly from main frame 314, frame 315 being mounted on base plate 313 and frame 316 being fixed to main frame 314.

On the'drive mount frames 315 and 316 there are 8 I fixed motor mounts 317 and 318 having reversing two speed motors 319 and 320 fixed on them. The shaft 321 of motor 319 drives shaft 322 through the combination clutch and brake unit 323. Through a pair of belevl gears 32-4 shaft 322 drives a horizontal splined shaft 325 which extends forward from a narrow central projection 326 of main frame 314 as shown in FIG. 31.

The rear portion of shaft 321 of the double-ended motor 319 has a vari-drive pulley 326 mounted on it. Pulley 326 drives pulley 327 by means of a belt 328. The turning of a handwheel 329 varies the ratios of the pulleys 326 and 327. Pulley 327 is mounted on shaft 330 of a three hundred to one gear reducer 331. Shaft 332 of gear reducer 331 extends into gear box 333 which is shown in FIG. 37 and will later be described in detail. By means of belt 334 and pulleys 335 and 336, gear box 333 drives shaft 337 which extends into the program box 338-.

A rod gripping mechanism 339 is fixed in the center of main frame 314. An eye positioning mechanism 340 is also fixed to main frame 314. These mechanisms, which will be described in detail, are shown in FIGS. 32 and 39, respectively.

Fixed on drive mount frame 316 connected to shaft 341 of motor 320 is the combination clutch and brake 342 on which is mounted a pulley '343 driving pulley 344 by means of a belt 345. Pulley 344 is mounted on a shaft driving a horizontal splined shaft (not shown) which extends away from the viewer as shown in FIGURE 31. This shaft, which is similar to shaft 325, drives the winding head 346 in a manner which will be described. Through the vari-drive pulleys 347 and 348 and belt 349, motor 320 drives shaft 350 through the three hundred to one gear reducer 351. Shaft 340 extends into a second gear box 352 having a pulley 353 driving a pulley 354 by a belt 355. Pulley 354 is mounted on shaft 356 which extends into the program box 357.

Referring now to FIGS. 31 and 33, guide rods 360 and 361 extend from both sides of projection 326 of main frame 314. The winding heads 346' and 346, respectively, are slidably secured on these rods 360 and 361 in front and behind projection 326, as it is shown in FIG. 31. The winding heads 346' and 346 are identical except that head 346' is installed inverted and thus reversed compared to head 346. Each winding head has a flat frame plate 362 having a circular bearing 363 about which a sector gear 364 is mounted about an opening 364' as in the first embodiment of this invention. The splined shaft 325 extends slidably through and rotates the first drive gear 365. An idler gear 366 rotatably mounted on shaft 367 drives the second drive gear 368 mounted on shaft 369 to mesh with the teeth 370 of sector gear 364. Sector gear 364 has secured to it to rotate with it a yarn holding and winding bracket 371 similar to that described for the first embodiment of this invention. Thus it may be seen that motor 319 may drive sector gear 364 of winding head 346' shown in FIG. 33, and in the same manner, motor 320 may drive winding head 346 shown in FIG. 31.

Each winding head has a tie-off tube 374 fixed to a finger 375 slidably mounted in block 376 fixed on the end of the piston rod '377 of air cylinder 378. Guide rods 379 extend through the bracket 380 which mounts cylinder 378 on frame plate 362 to prevent rotation of block 367 and keep tube 374 properly oriented. Tie-off plunger 381 extends through tube 374 and is attached to the slidably mounted finger 382. An air cylinder 384 in block 376 slides finger 382 by means of the rigid link 385 and rod 386. A hydraulic cylinder 387, by means of a link 388 and a rod 389 may urge the finger 375 and 382 towards each other compressing spring 390 to extend the tie-off plunger 381. Thus the cylinders 384, 387, and 378 may position, longitudinally advance, and withdraw tube 374 and plunger 381 to tie-off a winding 9 in the same manner described in connection with FIGS. 22-26.

The pair of winding heads 346 and 346' are moved away from each other while winding an eye 164 by a spur gear 391 shown in FIGS. 31 and 36. The gear 391 is driven by gear box 333 and extends into the two apertures 395 and 393 in projection 326. From the winding head 346 a lower guide rod 394 extends slidably through aperture 393 and from winding head 346. A lower guide rod 394 extends into aperture 395. Rod 394 has a flat surface 395' to clear the teeth of gear 391 so that it may slide freely in aperture 395. Rod 394 has rack gear teeth 396 out in it to be engaged by gear 391. Thus rotation of gear 391 moves winding head 146' laterally. A similar gear (not shown) in the upper part of projection 326 engages an upper guide rod from winding head 346 to move it laterally. This gear is driven from gear box 352 by motor 320.

The second embodiment of our invention is used and functions in the following manner. The winding station 312 is positioned by handle 309 where an eye, similar to that shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, is to be wound to a rod. As shown in FIGS. 31, 32 and 39, cylinder 398 is extended to lower eye holder 399 to clear the front facing openings 400 in the winding heads. A rod 401 is inserted through the openings 400 in the winding heads and the cylinders 402 are activated to retract their rods 403 which have rack gear teeth 404 formed above and below their outward facing ends. A bracket 405 is fixed to frame 314 and has the jaws 406 and 407 pivotally mounted on it about the shafts 408 and 409. Sector gear teeth 410 and 411 on jaws 406 and 407 engage the rack gear teeth 404 on rod 403 so withdrawal of rod 403 closes jaws 406 and 407 to clamp rod 401 as shown.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4, 31, and 39, an operator places eyes 164 in the lowered eye holder 399 which is similar to that described for the first embodiment of this invention. Cylinder 398 is then activated to draw rod 415 inward and pivot arm 416 upward in bracket 417. Cylinder 418 is fixed to the outer flange 419 of arm 416 and, when arm 416 is raised, extends rod 420 to horizontally move an eye in holder 399 inward against a rod 401.

As shown in FIGS. 31 and 37, both motors 319 and 320 are started. The clutch and brake units 323 and 342 have their brakes and their clutches disengaged. Motor 319, through the vari-drive pulleys 326 and 327, drives shaft 332 extending into gear box 333. Shaft 332 has a solenoid clutch activated pulley 421 and a spur gear 422 mounted on it. Shaft 423 has pulley 355 mounted on it outside gear box 333 and, within gear box 333, it has pulley 424, a solenoid clutch 425, a spur gear 425, and a solenoid clutch 426 associated with it. Clutch 425' may drive shaft 423 on which is mounted the spur gear 391 shown in FIG 36. A link belt 427 passes about pulleys 421 and 424.

By means of belt 334 and pulleys 335 and 336, gear box 333 also drives shaft 337 which is supported in bracket 428 and extends into control box 338. As shown in FIGS. 37 and 38, a number of disks 429 are mounted on shaft 337 within control box 338. Each disk 429 has a radial notch 430 cut in its circumference down to a pair of peripheral grooves 431 cut in each face. A contact element 433 may be positioned about the disks 429 and clamped where desired by means of a screw 434. Each disk 429 has an associated switch 435 which is activated by a contact element 433. Thus, as a winding operation takes place, the sequence of events to be described is controlled by the switches 435 which engage and disengage solenoid clutches and activate air valves (not shown) similar to those described in connection with the first embodiment of our invention.

At the start of the winding operation, clutches 426 and 425' are engaged along with the release of the brake and the engaging of the clutch of unit 323. Thus, as shown in FIG. 31, motor 319 drives the spline shaft 325 through the bevel gears 324; and shaft 325, in. the manner which has been described, drives sector gear 364 of winding head 346' to rotate bracket 371 about a rod 401 and make a winding. The rotation of shaft 423' rotates gear 391 as shown in FIG. 36 to move winding head 346' laterally as yarn is wound. It is to be noted that the rate of lateral motion of head 346 during winding may be adjusted by means of handwheel 329 which controls the vari-drive pulleys 326 and 327.

As winding continues, cylinders 378, 376, and 387 are activated to cause the tube 374 and plunger 381 to become overwound and then tie off a winding in the same manner as has been described for the first embodiment of this invention and shown in FIGS. 22-26. It is to be noted, however, that the tube 371 must remain stationary with relation to the lateral motion of the winding head 346' so that it and the extended plunger 381 may be overwound by the last few turns of yarn. Since the tube 341 is secured to the moving winding head, this is accomplished, as shown in FIG. 35, by having cylinder 387 an hydraulic cylinder to retard motion of tube 374. Cylinder 387 is a slave cylinder activated by a master cylinder 439 fixed to frame 314. This master cylinder 439 is mounted to have its piston rod 440 contact any portion of the moving winding head 346 at the desired stage of the winding. Hydraulic cylinder 387 then overrides the air cylinder 376 as it forces the fingers 375 and 382 together extending plunger 381 and compressing spring 390. When the wind is completed, switches 435 disengage the clutch and apply the brake of unit 323 to stop the drive of winding head 346'. At the same time, clutch 425' is disengaged and clutch activated pulley 421 is engaged to reverse the drive to shaft 423 and 423 to return winding head 346' and the disks 429 to their original positions.

While winding head 346' is completing a winding on one side of an eye, winding head 346 is driven by motor 320 and controlled in an identical manner by control box 357 to complete a winding on the other side of an eye. Since each winding head 346' and 346 is controlled and driven separately, a tandem winding station 312 can make different winds of difi'erent kinds and lengths on each side of an eye. This may be required to Wind ferrules, special eyes, etc.

If a winding station is to make identical winds, all the elements shown in FIG. 31 mounted on or above frame 316 may be omitted. However, a pulley should be placed on shaft 322 to drive pulley 344 so motor 319 may drive both winding heads. Shaft 423', and gear 391, as shown in FIG. 36, would then advance both winding heads 346' and 346 by providing a rack gear (not shown) on guide rod 394 in place of flat surface 395' to be engaged by gear 391.

While We have shown and described our invention in the best form known to us, it will nevertheless be understood that these are purely exemplary and that modifications may be made in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts involved in the embodiments of the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention except as it may be more limited in the appended claims wherein we claim:

1. In a machine for wrapping a wrapping material about elongated articles, winding head frame means rotatably supporting a rotatably driven sector containing a central opening and a radial opening communicating with said central opening, said radial opening being sulficient to receive an elongated article laterally therethrough into the central opening in said sector, a pair of drive devices mounted adjacent said sector in driving engagement therewith and spaced circumferentially thereabout a distance greater than the circumferential extent of said radial opening so that at least one of said drive devices is in contact with said sector in any driven rotative position thereof, and wrapping material holding and dispensing means mounted on said winding head to ro- 1 1 tate therewith about an elongated article extending through the central opening in said winding head.

2. In a machine for wrapping a wrapping material about elongated articles, frame means rotatably supporting a rotatably driven sector containing a central opening and a radial opening communicating with said central opening, said radial opening being sufiicient to receive an elongated article laterally therethrough into the central opening in said sector, a pair of drive devices mounted adjacent said sector in driving engagement therewith and spaced circumferentially thereabout a distance greater than the circumferential extent of said radial opening so that at least one of said drive devices is in contact with said sector in any driven position of said sector, wrapping material holding and dispensing means mounted on said sector to rotate therewith about an elongated article extending through the central opening in said sector, and means to produce relative motion of said dispensing means along said elongated article.

3. In a machine for wrapping a wrapping material about elongated articles, a winding head comprising, in combination, a winding head frame containing a central opening and a radial opening leading to said central opening, a sector driven member having an opening and being rotatably mounted on said winding head frame about said central opening, elongated articles to be wound being laterally insertable into the central opening in said winding head frame through the radial opening in said winding head frame and the opening in said sector drive member, two drive devices mounted adjacent said winding head frame and in driving engagement with said sector member, said drive devices being spaced apart about said sector member a distance greater than the opening in said sector member, means driving both said drive devices to rotate said sector member, and wrapping material holding dispensing means mounted on said sector member to rotate therewith about an elongated article extending through the central opening in said winding head frame and means moving said winding head frame.

4. The combination according to claim 14 with the addition of an idler gear rotatably mounted on said wind ing head frame meshing with said drive gears.

5. The combination according to claim 1 with the addition of bearing means fixed to said winding head frame about said central opening, said sector being rotatably mounted on said bearing means.

6. The combination according to claim 3 wherein means moving said winding head frame laterally during winding are provided by and said means are driven by said drive devices.

7. The combination according to claim 6 wherein said means moving said winding head frame laterally during winding comprises a cam rotatably mounted adjacent to said winding head frame, and a cam follower on said Winding head frame engaging said cam to move said winding head frame laterally, said cam being rotated by said drive devices.

8. The combination according to claim 7 wherein said cam is a barrel cam mounted parallel to the direction of motion of said winding head frame.

9. The combination according to claim 6 wherein said means driving both said drive devices moves said winding head frame laterally at different rates of speed while wrapping an elongated article producing a decorative wrapping having closely wound and spaced apart portions.

10. The combination according to claim 8 wherein said barrel cam has portions of different slope moving said winding head frame at different rates of speed while wrapping an elongated article.

11. The combination according to claim 1 with the addition of tie-off means comprising a wrapping material grasping means, and means advancing said grasping means in the direction of motion of said winding head during wrapping adjacent to the elongated article being wrapped and retracting said grasping means after wrapping said grasping means being advanced to have a portion of the wrappings made about said grasping means and said elongated article being wrapped, said grasping means being retracted drawing wrapping material under the portion of the wrappings made about said grasping means.

12. The combination according to claim 11 wherein said grasping means comprises a tube, a plunger extending from said tube, said plunger containing a transverse slot into which a turn of said wrapping material may be wound, and means extending said plunger from said tube to expose said slot and retracting said plunger to grasp said wrapping material wound in said slot against said tube.

13. The combination according to claim 12 wherein said tube and said plunger are mounted on said winding head frame and wherein said means advancing and retracting said tube and said plunger comprises an air cylinder, an hydraulic slave cylinder overriding said air cylinder retracting said tube, and a master hydraulic cylinder controlling said slave cylinder, said master cylinder being activated by motion of said winding head frame so that said slave cylinder retracts said tube at the same rate of speed as the motion of said winding head frame.

14. A machine for winding elongated articles with a yarn in different portions, said machine comprising, in combination, a plurality of winding stations each having a winding station frame, means mounted said winding station frames for lateral adjustment, winding head frames each containing a central opening and a radial opening leading to said central opening, a pair of said winding head frames being mounted to be laterally movable on each side of each of said winding station frames, a sector gear having an opening and being rotatably mounted about the central opening of each winding head frame, elongated articles to be wound being later-ally inserted through the radial openings in said winding head frames and the openings in said sector gears to extend through the central openings in said winding head frames, two drive gears mounted on each winding head frame meshing with a sector gear, said drive gears being spaced apart about each of said sector gears a distance greater than the openings in said sector gears, means driving said drive gears to rotate said sector gears, said means driving said drive gears also moving said winding head frames laterally on said winding station frames during winding, and yarn holding and dispensing means mounted on each of said sector gears rotating about the elongated article simultaneously winding yarn about portions of the elongated article.

15. The combination according to claim 14 wherein the machine is for winding eyes to fishing rods; and with the addition of eye holders, and means moving said eye holders to position eyes against a rod to be wound between said winding head frames, said winding head frames being moved outward on each side ofsaid winding station frames by said means moving said winding head frames laterally during winding.

16. The combination according to claim 15 wherein each of said means moving said eye holders to position eyes against a rod are fixed to one of said winding station frames.

17. The combination according to claim 16 with the addition of rod holding means projecting from each winding station frame between said winding head frames.

18. The combination according to claim 17 with the addition of guide rods extending from said winding head frames and wherein said winding station frames contain lateral apertures slidably receiving said guide rods to mount a pair of said winding head frames on each side of each winding station frame.

19. The combination according to claim 18 wherein at least one guide rod of each winding head frame has 13 rack teeth formed thereon, and with the addition of a spur gear on said winding station frame engaging the rack teeth of at least one guide rod, said spur gear being rotated by said means moving said winding head frames laterally to mive said winding head frame.

20. The combination according to claim 18 wherein said winding station frames are U-shaped each having an opening in a lower portion; said rod holding means being a pair of inward facing air cylinders in the upper portions of each of said U-shaped winding station frames, and rod clamping elements extended inward by said inward facing air cylinders clamping a rod; said means moving eye holders to position eyes against a rod being an air cylinder mounted below each winding station frame moving an eye holder upward through the opening in the lower portion of the U-shaped winding station frame.

21. The combination according to claim 19 wherein said winding station frames are vertically upstanding and each winding station frame has a forward extending central projection containing the lateral apertures to receive said guide rods, said winding head frames being disposed on each side of said central projection with the radial openings in said winding head frames extending forward away from said winding station frames.

22. The combination according to claim 21 wherein said means driving said drive gears and moving said winding head frames laterally comprises an electric motor on each winding station frame, a gear reducer on each winding station frame, and a splined shaft extending from said central projection and driven by said electric motor, said splined shaft extending slidably through one of said drive gears of a winding station frame to drive said drive gears, said electric motor rotating said spur gear engaging the rack teeth of at least one guide rod through said gear reducer.

23. The combination according to claim 22 with the addition of a vari-drive unit on each winding station frame, each of said electric motors on said winding station frames driving a gear reduced through one of said vari-drives so that the spacing of the windings may be adjusted by the vari-drives.

24. In a machine for winding yarn about an elongated object, said machine having yarn holding and dispensing means rotated about and moved along the elongated object to wind yarn about the elongated object, a tieoif mechanism comprising, in combination, a tube, a plunger containing a transverse notch facing away from said elongated object to receive wound yarn, means extending said plunger to expose said notch to receive yarn annd retracting said plunger to clamp yarn in said notch against said tube, and means advancing and retracting said tube along said elongated object advancing said tube so that said tube and said plunger are wound about with yarn, said means extending and retracting said plunger retracting said plunger clamping yarn, said means advancing and retracting said tube retracting said tube drawing yarn under windings wound about said tube.

25. The combination according to claim 24 with the addition of yarn holding and severing means adjacent to the side of said rod opposite said tube, and means advancing and retracting said yarn holding and severing means, said yarn holding and severing means being advanced during the last rotation of said yarn holding and dispensing means to receive yarn, said yarn holding and severing means severing yarn and holding the severed end before said tube is retracted.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,127,616 2/1915 Gilson 29-202.5 2,749,607 6/ -6 'McIlvane 29-45 6 3,052,419 9/1962 Huck 29- 452 X 3,221,401 12/ 1965 Scott et a1. 29- 208 3,231,970 2/ 1966 Wardell 29-208 X 2,550,131 4/ 1951 Wodetzky 242-7 2,564,016 '8/1951 Maddie 242-7 THOMAS H. EAGER, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. XJR. 

